Crosses planted at Dobbs Ferry treatment center

Police investigated the appearance of large crosses placed outside Children's Village in Dobbs Ferry Monday.

The crosses, one of which witnesses said stood about five feet high, appeared outside the facility around 4 a.m.

Children's Village is a residential treatment center for foster children, the majority of which are minorities. Resident Kimberly Hickerson called the incident a hate crime, saying she heard a young man yelling "white power."

Police took the crosses down and held them as evidence. Despite reports that the crosses were burning, police said there has been no evidence of accelerants on them. Investigators characterized the incident as harassment, stopping short of the hate-crime label.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Dobbs Ferry police at (914) 693-5500.